The Battle of the Sexes

The gender equality fight is a distraction created by the enemy so we focus more on man-made desires and less on God-given design.

I am a feminist. As a woman, I could ramble on about how we ladies are heroes, champions, and world changers. There are many times when there’s well-earned praise for women. We’ve done amazing things, but so have our male counterparts.

Gender equality has been a culturally hot topic for decades. At the turn of the 20th century, it started as a campaign for women to have a voice and be considered equally competent as their male equivalents. For good reason, many of these women desired a change in their society. Unfortunately, it was common to see men ruling their wives with an iron fist, using them as sexual objects, and limiting what they could say or do in or outside the home.

Initially, the motives for the women’s liberation movement were honorable. It’s never been too much to ask for a woman to be treated with dignity and respect. However, over time it stopped being less of a movement to encourage men to treat women better. Somewhere along the line, feminism turned into sexual and moral liberation, which meant women started enacting the same traits they once fought to eradicate.

How did the feminist movement go from encouraging men to view women as equals to women acting in ways that are far from respectable? Truthfully, it’s because gender equality is nothing less than a decoy created by the enemy.

That doesn’t mean women shouldn’t have respect or be honored the same way as men. But I am saying that the fight for gender equality will always be a senseless competition. It’s a battle between man and woman, and through the eyes of the secular world, there can only be one winner.

For hundreds of years, men dominated the game. Their physical strength and natural position in leadership gave them a clear lead. Yet, women discovered they had a voice. --And if you haven’t figured it out, women can talk circles around men.-- Woman’s voices were heard worldwide, and they band together, creating a force that seriously challenged men.

As of now, women are in the lead. Why would I say this? Because there is nothing in this western world that a woman cannot access. In fact, women are prioritized and praised for their mere existence. And in doing so, the world’s women have belittled and berated men to gain this number-one position. Our selfish and me-centric worldview makes it nearly impossible for men and women to be seen as valuable simultaneously.

The irony is that during the first wave of feminism, all that women desired was to be seen as equal and have equivalent opportunities as men. Wouldn’t the gender equality movement encourage mutual admiration between both sexes? It would if competition wasn’t bred into our human nature.

Comparison, competition, and the need to “be better” was the world’s first sin. Before man was created, there was prideful competition, and Lucifer longed to be better, mightier, and more powerful than God. This competition led to Lucifer being thrown out of the presence of the Lord. Since then, it has been Satan’s prerogative to create discord between God and his creation. The most potent tool Satan uses is lies. Half the battle is won if he can make us believe his half-truths.

The need for gender equality began as a small whisper. I’m sure Satan had no doubts that our sinful nature could turn a noble fight into a contentious battle. The modern-day fight for equality is nothing less than slanderous and needless comparison. The comparison between men and women is the same stumbling block that ruined the relationship between God and Lucifer.

Comparison and disparaging competition are not God’s design. When God created Adam and Eve, He didn’t appoint one to be better than the other. He made them in the same image but with different purposes. His design is complementary, not competitive.

Men and women desiring equal value is a good desire. Yet, tearing down the other to improve oneself is only from the enemy.

When you see women using their words to slander and dishonor men, that does not insite equality, but dissension. And a man’s sinful nature is showcased when they use their physical strength and natural aggression to control women.

When God made Adam and Eve, he made them equal species but equipped them with different qualities. The missed point in the gender equality conversation is that different is not unequal. If you read last week’s article, you’ll see that God has assigned a husband and wife different but necessary roles.

On all technicalities, men and women can do everything the same (other than the womanly ability to reproduce). But just because we can do the same things doesn’t mean that’s what’s best.

You’ll find throughout all my articles and on my page that I strongly believe in separating gender roles. The encouragement of a feminine woman and a masculine man is a radical position in this wayward world -- but one I’m committed to stand by.

The fight for gender equality will always result in a loss for one side. It’s human nature to want to enforce a power and control dynamic. It’s just another detour Satan has us go down, so we lose sight of what’s truly important. But rather than fighting for man-made equality, become competent and empowered in the role God has given you.

A life dedicated to fulfilling God’s work on earth leaves no time for playing the games of the world. I pray that men can find resources encouraging them in their walk toward biblical manhood. But for the women on this page, I want to journey through this burdensome world together, unpacking the roles, passions, and callings God has placed on women.